The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Umar Abdullahi Ganduje and the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau on Friday received members of the support groups of Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election from the 19 Northern States to the APC.

After receiving the Coalition into APC fold, Ganduje declared death sentence on PDP and NNPP, saying parties are ‘dying at a fantastic rate’.

Operating under the umbrella of the Coalition of Atiku Support Groups in the 19 Northern States in the 2023 general election, the support groups announced their defection from the PDP to the APC at the A-Class Event Centre, Abuja.

They were five representatives from each State across the 19 Northern States including the Federal Capital Territory that attended the political event where they all declared their loyalty to the ruling party, including other Coalition members back home.

The groups said they decided to join the APC and support President Tinubu following Senator Barau’s encouragement.

The Coordinator of the Coalition, Hon Abubakar Malami, said, ” Our groups comprise various strata of society—women, youths, students, traders, academics, and farmers— representing diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds.

“In the 2023 general elections build-up, we mobilised our members across the nooks and crannies of the 19 Northern States and the FCT to campaign for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

To the glory of God, Alhaji Atiku and the people around him acknowledged and appreciated the support of our groups. We played a key role in the votes the former vice president polled in the last presidential election.

Cross section of Coalition of Atiku Abubakar Support Groups who defected to APC

“We supported Alhaji Atiku in our quest to address the challenges facing our region, especially the terrorist activities of bandits, which are clogging our people’s wheel to economic activities. Farming, the mainstay of our people, was a no-go area. Our farmlands were turned into kidnappers’ dens.

“However, to the glory of Almighty God, 22 months into President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s tenure, a fresh air of peace and hope permeates the 19 Northern States. The crashing prices of food items cannot be divorced from the relative peace enjoyed in our region.

“To tackle the challenges facing our region, the President has established the North West Development Commission (NWDC) following a bill sponsored by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I Jibrin. This is the game changer. Mr President has also established the North Central Development Commission (NCDC).

“Another thing that has endeared the President Tinubu-led APC government to us is the Barau Initiative for Agricultural Revolution in North West (BIARN), a brainchild of the Deputy President of the Senate. We read in the national dailies that over 500 young farmers millionaires will be created under this initiative in the North West.

“This is what has been lacking in our region. Diversification is the way to go. If this can be replicated in the North East and North Central geopolitical zones, our country will attain food security, and our unemployed youths will be engaged. We are optimistic that our country is on the path to prosperity,” he said.

Following the success being recorded by President Tinubu, he said they have decided to team up with President Tinubu to lead the country to the next level of economic prosperity.

“In 2027, we will work for the continuation of President Tinubu’s administration. Our sincere appreciation goes to His Excellency, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator (Dr) Barau I Jibrin, CFR, for working hard to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in addressing the challenges facing our region and the country. He is the Sardauna Arewa of our time,” he said.

In his remarks, the Deputy President of the Senate described the defection of the Atiku supporters in the North as a big catch for the APC in the North.

“It’s a big catch. We are making a big catch today at our party. Mr. President is a very good man. He’s doing his best to reposition Nigeria so it will be turned into a land of prosperity. And it’s good that you understood that and have come to acknowledge what Mr. President is doing.

“It is good that you are teaming up with Mr President so that he will succeed in his effort to change our development trajectory and make this country a land of El Dorado. This is a very good development. Today, we are happy you are joining the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu family.

“You are joining the APC family because it’s a family that cherishes hard work. And for us, we do not discriminate.
” Whoever comes into the party today has the same privileges, the same latitude to operate like someone who has stayed for years.

“The only difference is your hard work. What have you been able to do at the party? So if you do better if you do well, you will even be recognised more than someone who has been around since the party’s inception,” he said.

Describing President Tinubu as the father for all, he said; ” You know he is someone who is known to be at home in all parts of the country, someone who is generous, his hospitality is unprecedented, he has everything that you can think of as a good man and a leader.”

He commended Ganduje for leading the party to victory in all off-season polls and said that since Ganduje became President, APC has been winning elections back to back.

“He has shown capacity. He has shown that he is capable. So we are proud of you. And we thank you for making us proud, we thank you for making Kano state proud, we thank you for making Northwest proud, we thank you for making Nigeria proud because you are someone who is at home everywhere,” he said.

Addressing the groups, the National Chairman of the APC, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, hailed the defection of Atiku’s supporter, describing Senator Barau, who facilitated it, as a real general.

“You are welcome to our party. We are formally receiving you now. But as I have been informed, after the fasting period, all your members will gather here in Abuja, under the leadership of the distinguished Senator Barau, so that we invite Mr President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Vice President himself, where we will have the Senate President and the Right Honorable Speaker, to formally receive all your members to register the death, the collapse, the disappearance of the PDP in Nigeria, not only in the northern part of this country.

“I saw one clip that is trending. Soon, we will have elections in Anambra State. Each political party plans to get its candidates for the contest in the governorship election. But I have seen that PDP has extended its screening deadline because nobody has shown up for the contest.

The extension has also expired. And nobody has showed up for the contest. So I don’t need to tell you, it is a crumbling party.

“We are the greatest beneficiary of the crumbling party. So we welcome you honestly. We welcome you to a party with a progressive ideology. To a party that believes in the rule of law. To the party that believes in internal democracy. To the party that believes in engagement.To the party that says no discrimination.

“We are the most peaceful party in Nigeria—the most peaceful party in Africa. Because we believe in internal democracy, ” he said.

He commended the Deputy President of the Senate for encouraging people from other political parties to join APC.

“We have seen that distinguished Senator Barau is going beyond Kano. He is liberating those people, especially those who are committed to democracy.

He is convincing them to join our party, not only from Kano State, not only from the northern part of this country, but from the whole country. So the distinguished Senator Barau is a real general. So we assure you, Allah will provide his ambition,” he said.

One of the aspirants vying for the Anambra governorship position under the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sir Paul Chukwuma, has declared that he is the most qualified to fly the party’s flag in the November 8, 2025 election.

Chukwuma, a former member of the National Working Committee (NWC), made this assertion shortly after he was screened by the Anambra National Gubernatorial Screening Committee at the party headquarters in Abuja on Friday.

Speaking to journalists, Sir Chukwuma described the screening process as satisfactory, emphasizing his preparedness and commitment to the party.

“The party, in continuation of its responsibility and in preparation for the governorship election in Anambra State, commenced today the process of screening the aspirants. I happened to be the first to undergo this process, and I can tell you that it is a routine exercise of the party to ensure that the aspirants are fit and proper to hold the office of the governor in Anambra State.

“As a former member of the National Working Committee and a founding member of this party, I was well prepared for the screening, and it worked very well. I am happy to say that we are ready for the election in line with the party’s programmes, and I am hopeful that at the end of the day, I will be elected by our party delegates to fly the flag. I am quite convinced that, by the special grace of God, the APC will take the reins of power in Anambra State with me as the party’s candidate and eventually as the governor of Anambra State, he said”.

Highlighting his credentials, Chukwuma stressed that his experience and longstanding membership make him the best choice to lead the party to victory.

“Looking at my resume, I am the most qualified to lead Anambra APC to the Government House. I’m pretty sure that when I emerge as the candidate of the party, my colleagues in the struggle will be more than happy to work with me for us to take Anambra and give it back to Ndi Anambra, he noted.

When asked about the participation of a colleague who recently joined the party, Chukwuma expressed delight at the growing interest in APC.

“As a human being, I feel great that we, as a political party, have commendable policies that allow people who feel they are willing to identify with the party’s programmes to join. It doesn’t matter when you join the party. What is important is to have the discipline to carry on with activities as a member of the party.

“I welcome our brothers who joined the party recently. I created the platform for this to happen, and I should be happy. When I was creating that platform, cleaning up the party, and trying to make the party a beautiful bride, I would be deceiving myself if I thought people would not leverage that to join the party. The outcome of what we are seeing today is a product of many years of hard work by myself and other progressives in this journey.

“The party has its constitution and programmes. What is important is to always remember that the election process is a democratic process, and we should allow anybody who feels qualified to contest. This is a party primary, and our members are more than excited to have me as the candidate. Our brothers who have joined us will be more than happy to join hands with me in cleaning up Anambra State and giving Anambra back to Ndi Anambra, he said”

On the adoption of the indirect mode of primaries, Chukwuma reiterated his readiness to abide by the party’s decision.

He said, “The party is supreme. Whatever decision the party makes, members of the party are bound to follow. I am ready for the primaries, and I am ready for the general elections. The decision of the party to go for indirect primaries is a welcome development. I am very comfortable with it because, at the end of the day, it is the party members that will vote.

“I am prepared for direct primaries, indirect primaries, consensus, or any mode the party decides. I know I have worked hard for the party, and our party members are men and women of conscience who will recognize my sacrifice and commitment to the party. Based on that, I have no fear that I will emerge victorious and become the candidate of the party.”

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced that the party’s candidate for the upcoming Anambra governorship election will be selected through an indirect primary.

This decision was confirmed by the APC National Secretary, Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru, following a recent meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and caucus.

“In line with our commitment to due process and internal democracy, the NWC has resolved to adopt the indirect primary method for the Anambra governorship election. This decision follows extensive consultations with party stakeholders,” Basiru stated.

To foster inclusivity, the party said it has also scheduled a stakeholders’ meeting at its national headquarters on Tuesday next week. The meeting will include the state working committee, state caucus, and governorship aspirants to further align the party’s preparations.

Addressing recent speculations, the NWC clarified that no official decision on the mode of primary had been made prior to the announcement, despite earlier advertisements suggesting otherwise.

“The official position is that the primary will be conducted through the indirect method. A formal communication will be sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and supplementary advertisements will be published accordingly,” Basiru explained.

Responding to reports about the absence of certain prominent figures from the NEC meeting, Basiru clarified that individuals who are not statutory NEC members were mistakenly reported as absent.
“For clarity, leaders such as former Senate President Ahmad Lawan attended the caucus meeting but were not required at the NEC session. Some media reports inaccurately suggested they were absent from the entire process,” he said.

To promote inclusivity, the NEC has set up a committee to review the party’s constitution, particularly to integrate political figures currently excluded from statutory membership.

The NWC also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other party leaders for their dedication to strengthening internal democracy and advancing the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The party announced plans to engage government appointees on the progress of the Renewed Hope Agenda immediately after Ramadan. The engagements will assess the achievements and challenges across various ministries, departments, and agencies.

Additionally, the APC is advancing its membership e-registration exercise, having mobilized consultants and infrastructure to ensure a transparent and credible party register ahead of the next general election.

“Our objective is to produce a register with integrity that will provide insights into our party’s demographic structure as we prepare for future elections,” Basiru added.